Chris Lombardi puts defense and security under the spotlight, as he shares his takes on recent NATO and EU cooperation and provides insight into the company’s own long-term strategic partnerships in Europe.

Three trends are currently driving the global electricity sector: decarbonization, decentralization and differentiation. Utilities are making significant contributions to mitigate carbon emissions, while a technology revolution is …

European Union officials hope that months of wrangling over a common EU patent will come to an end this week.

Leaders of EU member states who meet in Brussels later this week (28-29 June) will be asked to approve a compromise plan that would see the location of the court shared between Paris, London and Munich.

The unitary patent’s introduction has been under threat because France, Germany and the UK all want to host the court.

Earlier this month, Denmark, which holds the rotating presidency of the Council of Ministers, asked Herman Van Rompuy, the president of the European Council, to broker a compromise.

Van Rompuy and Helle Thorning-Schmidt, the prime minister of Denmark, have now written to EU leaders proposing a solution.

They wrote: “After consultation with the most concerned member states, we have prepared an outline for an agreement on the outstanding issues – the location of the seat of the unitary patent court (UPC).”

They propose locating the seat of the court’s central division, along with its president’s office and registry, in Paris, with other departments based in London and in Munich.

“Given the highly specialised nature and quality standards, we also propose to create specialised clusters in two sections of the UPC, one in London, the other in Munich, which will continue to deal with administrative matters.”

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I P Regularly

Van Rompuy has no idea. This is not about where the court is located. It is about a proposed patent system that will crucify small businesses on the altar of multi-nationals. If politicians end up arguing then agreeing over the seat, then business has lost

Posted on 6/27/12 | 9:57 AM CET

I P Regularly

Van Rompuy has no idea. This is not about where the court is located. It is about a proposed patent system that will crucify small businesses on the altar of multi-nationals. If politicians end up arguing then agreeing over the seat, then business has lost

Posted on 6/27/12 | 9:57 AM CET

I P Regularly

Van Rompuy has no idea. This is not about where the court is located. It is about a proposed patent system that will crucify small businesses on the altar of multi-nationals. If politicians end up arguing then agreeing over the seat, then business has lost

Posted on 6/27/12 | 9:57 AM CET

I P Regularly

Van Rompuy has no idea. This is not about where the court is located. It is about a proposed patent system that will crucify small businesses on the altar of multi-nationals. If politicians end up arguing then agreeing over the seat, then business has lost